Category Archives: Housing Industry

With nearly 30 years of mortgage lending experience but a fresh perspective as Inlanta’s new Third Party Originations (TPO) Manager, I continue to be amazed at the resilience of our trade. In the last 10 years the mortgage industry has seen more changes and faced more headwinds than many industries do in a lifetime, and yet we are on pace to originate nearly two trillion dollars in 2016, the first time since 2012.

More encouraging signs are on the horizon – a robust purchase market with average prices finally edging above pre-2007 levels and the first increase in Freddie/Fannie loan limits in 10 years! The agencies announced that limits on a single family loan rose from $417,000 to $424,100 effective January 1, 2017. While not a huge increase, the new limits are helpful as conforming rates generally are lower than jumbo rates and underwriting more consistent and flexible so a few more transactions will get done. No announcement yet on the FHA/VA side, but we should hear something in the next couple weeks.

While we do face some rate uncertainty and volatility in 2017, it appears the market fundamentals are relatively sound for a solid year of growth. Take some time to consider how your organization is poised to participate in the 2017 mortgage market. Some questions you may want to mull over are:

Are there any gaps in your current mortgage product offerings?

Do you currently originate any government loans? FHA or VA?

If you are in or adjacent to more rural areas, do you originate USDA RD loans or are you familiar with the program?

How has your mortgage area been dealing with TRID and the current regulatory environment?

Do you feel comfortable that you are on top of the latest mortgage regs?

How much time do you now spend on mortgage compliance and regulatory issues?

Do you have plans to grow your mortgage volume/department in the near future?

How do you feel about the technology your institution is using in the mortgage department?

Do you have a handle on the actual profitability of your mortgage area?

Is your mortgage production easily scalable?

Is your institution looking for more direct fee income?

If the answers to these questions leave you with concerns, Inlanta Mortgage’s TPO program can help by providing services to help you efficiently originate FHA, VA, USDA and Conventional mortgages without the back office expense or compliance worries. Always glad to answer any questions, just email me at davestephan@inlanta.com.

Inlanta President Attends MBA Advocacy Conference

Inlanta Mortgage President, Nicholas DelTorto was recently in Washington, D.C. to attend the MBA’s National Advocacy Conference. As President of the Wisconsin Mortgage Banker’s Association, DelTorto attended the conference as a representative of all Wisconsin mortgage bankers and to give voice to the issues they feel threaten their businesses and the mortgage industry in general.

Our Mission Statement

Inlanta’s mission is to be the home financing partner that you trust to serve your family, friends and community. Through their family of dedicated mortgage professionals, Inlanta’s commitment is to deliver an exceptional experience. Inlanta’s unwavering dedication to integrity, honesty and ethics is the foundation of all of their relationships.

About Inlanta Mortgage

Headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., Inlanta Mortgage was established in 1993. The company has grown to 32 branches in 17 states and over 200 employees. The company is agency approved for Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, FHA/VA, FHA 203K and USDA. Inlanta also offers numerous state bond agency programs as well as a full suite of jumbo and portfolio programs.

Loan officers and branch managers interested in learning more about the Inlanta Mortgage platform are encouraged to take a look at the opportunities that a branch partnership with Inlanta Mortgage could provide. For more information, email partner@inlanta.com or call 262-439-4260

Housing Market Predictions 2014

Everyone wants to know what to expect in 2014 and nearly every major publication has published their housing market predictions. Here is a brief summary of their housing market predictions for 2014.

More Homes Available

The staff at Forbes have released a number of predictions from housing experts. The number one prediction on their list is that more homes will be available. They and others claim that new construction and rising prices should bring more homes, both old and new, onto the market in 2014.

Fewer Underwater Homeowners

Investopedia author, Jean Folger states that as home prices rise we can expect more homeowners to emerge from being underwater. This will put many more homeowners in the position to finally buy and sell properties, further supporting the prediction that more homes will become available.

Mortgages Easier, More Expensive

Conor Dougherty from the Wall Street Journal says that mortgages may be easier to get, but they will also be more expensive. Rising home prices and falling mortgage delinquencies should give lenders and mortgage insurance companies more confidence. However, Dougherty also says that the upcoming mortgage regulations might kill lenders appetities to make credit more widely available to qualified buyers.

Mortgage Rates to Top 5%

According to a recent article on CBS Moneywatch.com, this is a matter of when not if. In the article they say that stronger economic growth will eventually lift the Federal Reserve’s hand out of the mortgage market in 2014, causing it to taper its bond-buying stimulus program. They were also kind enough to remind us of the effect that the mere mention of “tapering” had in June, when rates jumped a half a percentage point overnight.

What To Do About Predictions

What should you do about all this? If you’re planning on purchasing a home, you may want to consult with a licensed mortgage loan officer to discuss your financing options. According to the National Association of Realtors Affordability Index, home prices increases are outpacing income growth – a trend that is likely to get worse. The sooner you familiarize yourself with the financing options available to you, the easier it will be for you to take that leap.

Our Mission Statement

Our mission is to be the home financing partner that you trust to serve your family, friends and community. Through our family of dedicated mortgage professionals our commitment is to deliver an exceptional experience. Our unwavering dedication to integrity, honesty and ethics is the foundation of all of our relationships.

About Inlanta Mortgage – Celebrating 20 Years

Headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., Inlanta Mortgage was established in 1993. The company has grown to 31 branches in 16 states and over 200 employees. Inlanta Mortgage offers Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac agency products, as well as a full suite of jumbo and portfolio programs. The company is an agency approved lender for Fannie Mae, FHA/VA, FHA 203K and USDA. Inlanta Mortgage also offers numerous state bond agency programs.

Loan officers and branch managers are encouraged to visit our services page to learn more about the Inlanta Mortgage support platform. For more information, please call Inlanta Mortgage at 262-439-4260, email info@inlanta.com.

“We have always been confident in the quality of our loan production and this approval is another validation of our approach to responsible lending. Adding the ability to service our own loans as well as all the benefits of direct approval is one of a variety of positive developments for the company,” said Chief Operating Officer, Jean Badciong. “We realize that the quality of our loans and strong agency relationships are essential to our long term growth.”

What Does Fannie Mae Approval Mean?

Fannie Mae agency approval means Inlanta can continue to broaden the products and services offered to consumers through its professional loan origination staff. This designation provides increased liquidity and stability in the rapidly changing mortgage origination market.

Inlanta Mortgage, currently celebrating its 20th year in business, is a growing mortgage banking firm committed to quality mortgage lending, ethical operations and strong customer service. Over the past three years Inlanta Mortgage has more than doubled its revenue and nearly doubled its employee base.

About Inlanta Mortgage

Headquartered in Brookfield, Wis., Inlanta Mortgage was established in 1993 and is currently celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The company has grown to 32 branches in 16 states and over 235 employees. Inlanta Mortgage provides its branches with Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac agency products, as well as a full suite of jumbo and portfolio programs. The company is an agency approved lender for Fannie Mae, FHA/VA, FHA 203K and USDA.

The company’s branch and loan officer support platform provides high producing professional offices and loan officers with the latest technology and product menu focused on unsurpassed service and quality to both the consumers and employees. Inlanta takes pride in the highest level of honesty, integrity and ethics in all its business dealings. It is a member of th Mortgage Bankers Association, numerous state associations and Lenders One, the largest cooperative of mortgage bankers in the nation. Inlanta is an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.

Inlanta Mortgage Branch Partnerships

For more information on Inlanta Mortgage branch partnerships, please call Joe Ramis or Peter Salamone at 262-439-4260 or email partners@inlanta.com. For more information on Inlanta Mortgage loan programs and services, visit the company’s retail website at www.inlanta.com.

In today’s MarketPulse newsletter from CoreLogic, the CEO says that this spring’s home buying season offers the brightest prospects for the housing market since 2006. With fewer foreclosed properties and declining shadow inventory comes solid gains in home prices and a reduction in the number of borrowers who are underwater. Our nation’s housing market is in transition as affordability of home ownership remains at very attractive levels.

Home Prices

Home prices increased by 9.7 percent in January 2013 compared to January 202. This represents the biggest increase since April of 2006. The five states with the highest home price appreciation include Arizona (+20.1 percent), Nevada (+17.4 percent), Idaho (+14.9 percent) California (+14.1 percent), and Hawaii (+14 percent).

Foreclosures

Nationally, the inventory of foreclosed home decreased 21 percent from a year ago. This is the largest year-over-year decrease in the last 12 years. Overall, the inventory of foreclosed homes is down 25.7 percent from its peak in January 2011. Since the beginning of the financial crisis in 2008, there have been approximately 4.2 million foreclosures in the United States.

Home Sales

Total home sales decreased 4 percent year-over-year in 2013 – but this combines the 16 percent decrease in new home sales and the 5 percent year-over-year increase in previously owned homes. Distressed sales accounted for 24 percent of all home sales in the United States in January of 2012. States with the highest share of distressed sales include Nevada, Michigan, California, Arizona, Georgia and Florida.

Source: MarketPulse newsletter published by CoreLogic – March 18, 2013.

Inlanta Mortgage is proudly celebrating twenty years in business. Learn more about Inlanta’s twenty year history here.